Study Finds Effective Methods for Smoking Cessation

Aug.30.2022
Study Finds Effective Methods for Smoking Cessation
A study found that varenicline, bupropion, and low-dose e-cigarettes were the most effective smoking cessation methods.

A study titled "Pharmacological and e-cigarette intervention for smoking cessation: systematic review, network meta-analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis" was conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol in the UK. They searched a publication database up to March 2017 and updated their search in February 2019 with randomized clinical trials of smoking cessation interventions lasting for over six months.


The research team ultimately conducted a total of 363 experiments involving 201,045 participants. Additionally, they conducted 53 observational studies, which involved 8,783,5403 participants for safety review purposes.


After analyzing the results, the research team has concluded that the most effective treatment methods are substituting with Varencicline Standard plus Nicotine (odds ratio [OR], 3.22; 95% credible interval [CrI], 2.27-14.88), substituting with Varenicline Low plus Nicotine (OR, 5.70; 95% CrI, 1.57-21.12), and using low electronic cigarettes (OR, 3.22; 95% CrI, 0.97-12.55).


A controversial drug.


On October 1, 2021, the drug varenicline, commonly sold under the name Champix, was added to the World Health Organization's Essential Medicines List. This anti-smoking medication is well-known for helping smokers overcome cravings for cigarettes. However, despite being considered highly effective, it can also cause moderate to severe psychological side effects, ranging from terrifying nightmares to suicidal thoughts.


After multiple reports of such disturbances, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the most severe warning for the drug, causing the sales of Valeni-cline to decrease from $846 million in 2008 to $671 million last year.


In order to overcome this decline, Pfizer, the manufacturer of the drug, has invested heavily in advertising and resolving lawsuits related to the medication. Additionally, the pharmaceutical company has released data retrieved from a study that allegedly proves that consuming Valenicline does not have a direct link to experiencing psychological disorders.


Subsequently, after refusing to lift the warning in 2014, the FDA recently decided to change their stance and abandon the warning. The agency has requested the listing of side effects associated with the drug, and has established a requirement that the label specify that varenicline is more effective than other smoking cessation therapies.


Vonnicron stock recall


Meanwhile, in June of last year, Pfizer was forced to halt distribution of Valsartan after discovering increased levels of nitrosamine in the pills and recalled some of its stock. However, in the following month, the US Food and Drug Administration announced that it would temporarily allow some manufacturers to distribute drugs containing carcinogens below a temporary limit of 185 nanograms per day until impurities could be eliminated or reduced to acceptable levels.


Disclaimer: 1. The content of this article is compiled from third-party information and is only intended for industry exchange and learning purposes. 2. This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS, and 2FIRSTS is unable to confirm the authenticity and accuracy of the content. The compilation of this article is only intended for industry exchange and research. 3. Due to the limitations of the compilation level, the compiled article may not express the same meaning as the original article. Please refer to the original article for accuracy. 4. For any domestic, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and foreign statements and positions, 2FIRSTS fully aligns with the Chinese government. 5. The copyright of the information compiled belongs to the original media and author. If there is any infringement, please contact us to delete it.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

FDA Unifies Tobacco Registration and Product Listing Form Across Product Categories
FDA Unifies Tobacco Registration and Product Listing Form Across Product Categories
The U.S. FDA has consolidated two tobacco establishment registration and product listing forms into a redesigned Form FDA 3741 covering all regulated product categories, including e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches. The current requirements remain limited to domestic establishments. Separately, the FDA has proposed extending registration and product listing requirements to foreign manufacturers, signaling greater regulatory attention to manufacturing entities and product-level information across the tobacco and nicotine supply chain.
FDA
Sep.30
On-Site Report | CTP Details PMTA Backlog, 180-Day Review Goal and sPMTA Process
On-Site Report | CTP Details PMTA Backlog, 180-Day Review Goal and sPMTA Process
FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products detailed new PMTA review data and process changes at the 2026 FDLI conference. Pending PMTAs fell from about 450,000 at the start of 2025 to 135,000 by September 2026. CTP also discussed its 180-day review goal, current sPMTA pilot, alternate-supplier planning, more than 50,300 pending SE reports, and lessons from the nicotine pouch pilot already being applied to ENDS review.
Regulations
Oct.07
U.S. Health Groups Seek to Overturn FDA Enforcement Discretion for Pending PMTAs as Altria's Helix, NJOY and AVM Move to Intervene
U.S. Health Groups Seek to Overturn FDA Enforcement Discretion for Pending PMTAs as Altria's Helix, NJOY and AVM Move to Intervene
American Vapor Manufacturers (AVM) and Altria subsidiaries Helix Innovations and NJOY filed separate motions on October 7, 2026, seeking to intervene on the FDA's side in a lawsuit challenging its enforcement guidance for certain e-cigarette and nicotine pouch products with pending premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs). Seven public health and tobacco-control organizations, including the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, sued the agency in July to overturn the policy. AVM argues that vacating the guidance could disrupt orders, inventory, retail distribution and investments in regulatory submissions.
Regulations
Oct.09
IKE Tech Launches IKE 2.0 Compliance Platform for Nicotine Products
IKE Tech Launches IKE 2.0 Compliance Platform for Nicotine Products
IKE Tech launched IKE 2.0 on September 28, initially targeting nicotine products with a platform that combines user identity verification, product authentication, configurable policy controls and data analytics. Products can be authenticated through direct device integration or NFC smart tags. IKE Tech was formed with participation from Ispire's Aspire North America, Berify and Chemular, with Ispire currently holding a 40% interest. Its age-verification component PMTA was accepted by the FDA in 2025 and remains under review. The company did not disclose customer names, commercial deployment volumes, pricing or revenue tied to IKE 2.0.
News
Sep.29 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Latest UK ONS Data: 54% of Vapers Are Former Cigarette Smokers, 26% Also Smoke and 20% Never Smoked Regularly
Latest UK ONS Data: 54% of Vapers Are Former Cigarette Smokers, 26% Also Smoke and 20% Never Smoked Regularly
Former cigarette smokers accounted for an estimated 54% of current e-cigarette users in Great Britain in 2025, while 26% also smoked cigarettes and 20% had never regularly smoked, according to a 2Firsts analysis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. Among former cigarette smokers who currently vape, approximately 81% used e-cigarettes daily, compared with about 50% of dual users. The ONS found that 33.8% of current cigarette smokers also vaped in 2025, up from 10.6% in 2014. Approximately 1.1 million adults who had never regularly smoked cigarettes used e-cigarettes, representing 2.9% of that population, compared with 0.2% in 2014. The figures highlight differences in the composition, frequency of use and long-term trends across Britain's vaping population.
DATA
Oct.14
Beyond IQOS ILUMA, PMI Expands Lower-Priced BONDS Heated Tobacco Platform: Seven Markets Added in Q3, With Rollouts in Japan, Europe and North Africa
Beyond IQOS ILUMA, PMI Expands Lower-Priced BONDS Heated Tobacco Platform: Seven Markets Added in Q3, With Rollouts in Japan, Europe and North Africa
Philip Morris International (PMI) is expanding the international footprint of BONDS by IQOS, its lower-priced heated tobacco platform. The company's third-quarter 2026 SEC filing shows that BONDS devices and BLENDS tobacco sticks were available in 15 markets at the end of September, up from eight at the end of June. In November, PMI announced plans to extend sales from three to 17 Japanese prefectures and introduced BONDS in Spain and Morocco. The platform uses ROUNDHEAT external heating technology and proprietary tobacco sticks, separate from the IQOS ILUMA system. In Japan, BONDS retails for ¥2,980, approximately 25% below ILUMA i ONE, while BLENDS costs ¥570 per pack. PMI management says BONDS targets cigarette smokers who have not adopted heated tobacco. Separate sales and revenue figures remain undisclosed.
company
Nov.06